CQC pledges to avoid box-ticking culture
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- Published: Friday, 03 May 2013 09:06
- Written by News Editor
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Dental bodies have campaigned for a fair, reasonable, effective and proportionate approach to dental regulation.
In other sectors that it regulates, the CQC has started to use more members of the public with direct experience of care in its inspections. It has not yet confirmed if this development is to be mirrored in its dental inspections.
The statements have come alongside the recent publication of the CQC’s second Provider Feedback Survey, a regular report of the regulated sectors’ views of the CQC. The survey, in which almost 600 dentists participated, found that just over 80 per cent of dentists believed the CQC’s inspections and regulatory framework were beneficial to patient care.
The survey nonetheless identified significant levels of unhappiness and concerns amongst dentists – particularly around the inconsistencies witnessed in during inspections, the lack of clear guidance from CQC about what it requires and non-dental requirements being inappropriately assessed.
Concerns were particularly pronounced amongst dental practices that had failed inspections. Less than a third of those practices judged to be non-compliant believed the ruling to be fair and accurate, with practices’ complaints including being inappropriately judged on the basis of one frightened member of staff and being judged more harshly than other local practices despite achieving the same standards.
The CQC has also recently announced changes to its registration fees. For most dentists, the CQC’s fees will stay the same for the third year running, with the majority continuing to pay £800.
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